The nervous wait was over as students in Dereham, Fakenham and Reepham opened their A-level results and started to prepare for the next stages of their lives.

Left to right is Oli Kemp, Robert Allen and Will Jacobs who each achieved straight A*s in their A-Levels. Picture: Steve Shaw

Reepham High School and College achieved some of their best results ever this year, and head teacher Mark Farrar said he was “absolutely delighted.”

In total, 89pc of its grades were A* to Cs, up from 87pc last year, a high figure which came despite the changes to the courses, and 13pc gained A*s.

Three of the college’s best results were from friends Robert Allen, with A*s in mathematics, further mathematics, physics and chemistry, Oli Kemp, who got A*s in mathematics, further mathematics and chemistry and Will Jacobs, who achieved A*s in mathematics, biology and chemistry. He said: “I’m shell-shocked. It hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Meanwhile, Dereham Sixth Form College (DSFC) praised its “outstanding” students and the “monumental efforts” of staff after 76pc of its grades were graded above a C, a small dip from 79pc last year.

Jonathan James achieved 4 A*s in his A-levels is going to Cambridge University to study medicine. Picture: Ian Burt

A statement from co-directors David Brooks and Jonathan Atkin said: “This year’s results indicate even greater achievement than last year with the A*/A grades at 26pc, and over 50pc achieving A* to B grades.

“This allows our students to follow their chosen pathways including joining Oxford and Cambridge.”

Glyn Hambling, chief executive of Unity Education Trust, said: “We are immensely proud of all people associated with Dereham Sixth Form College, including the teachers who have put in a monumental effort, and of course our outstanding students.”

Students celebrating outside the college. Photo: EDP

For the 10th year in a row Fakenham College has seen students secure Oxbridge places, and managed to maintain its 71pc of A* to C grades from last year.

Head Lianne Higgins said: “I’m particularly pleased with the number of students who got their first choice university place and we’ve had an improvement of A* to Bs.”

Amongst the best performers were Jonathan James, who achieved four A*s and will study medicine at Cambridge, Georgia Bottomley who goes to Oxford with an A* and two As, plus an A in extended studies, and Charlie Sopp, who achieved three A*s and an A and will study at Bath or Imperial College, London.